Socket wrench cabinet



Dec. 5, 1950 G. A. MINNlcH 2,532,636

SOCKET WRENCH CABINET Filed Sept. 18, 1946 GfLERT A. Mum/CH 'i6 @MMV MWMQEW Patented Dec. 5, 1950 1 l'TED ES ATENT 0 iF Fl CE.

.SOCKET WRENCHCABINET Gilbert A. Minnich, Elyria Ohio Application September 18, 1946', Serial'No. 697,729

rBlais-invention relates to' new and useful improvements and structural refinements in cabinets, more specically, in tool cabinets, and the principalv object of theinvention is to provide a device of the character herein' described, such as may7 be conveniently and effectively employed as a storage receptacle for L.shaped socket wrenches, better known as the Allen wrenches.

A further object of the invention is to provide ai cabinet'wherei-n'such Wrenches may be'stored in an orderly, pleasing manner, and in which the Wrenches may be easily and conveniently inserted or removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cabinet which is simple in construction, compact in style and which will not easily become damaged.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a cabinet which will readily lend itself to economical manufacture.

With the above more important objects in view, and such other objects as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective View of the invention, showing the same in the closed position.

Figure 2 is a perspective view, similar to that shown in Figure 1, but showing the invention in the open position.

Figure A3 is an exploded perspective View of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan View of the open cabinet, the same being taken in the direction of the arrow 4 in Figure 5, and

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 5 5 in Figure 4.

Like characters of reference are used to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of a socket wrench cabinet designated generally by the reference l character Ill, and the same embodying in its construction a substantially rectangular, block-like body I I formed with a plurality of parallel, openended bores I2 which extend transversely between the opposite longitudinal edges or surfaces I3 of the body, as will be clearly understood.

One surface (I4) of the body II is formed with a plurality of notch-like openings I5 which extend inwardly from one of the longitudinal edges or surfaces I3. It will be noted that each 1 Claim. (C1. 20G-16) of theopenings Iicommunicates withonefof the bores I2 andfcoacts'therewith to provide a sub-- stantially L-shaped compartment whereinv a' course, of' different sizes 13o-accommodate cor-- respcndinglysized wrenches, and if desire-thecompartments may be arranged according tia-size,` in a progressive `formation, as will be clearly apparent from the accompanying drawings.V

The free end portions il: of a` substantially U-shaped cover I8 are pivotally connected to the end surfaces I9 of the body II by a pair of pivot bolts 2E). To facilitate this connection, the end portions Ii are formed with screw threaded apertures 2| adapted to receive the screw threaded portions 22 of the screws or bolts 2G, while the Shanks of the bolts terminate in substantially cylindrical shaft portions 23 which are rotatably receivable in suitable apertures 2li provided in the body I I.

The mid-portion 25 of the cover I6 is normally disposed adjacent the open ends of the bores I2 provided with the openings I5. This is best illustrated in the accompanying Figure 1, wherein it will be noted that the cover will effectively prevent the wrenches I6 from being removed or becoming dislodged from their respective compartments.

The cover I8 may be opened, so to speak, by simply swinging the same about the pivot screws 2i! as shown in Figure 2, whereupon the cabinet may be rested on one of the edges I3, as shown in Figure 5. When so positioned, the cover I8 may contact the surface 2S on which the cabinet is standing, thereby assisting in maintaining the body II in a substantially upright position. It will be noted that any one, or any combination of the wrenches may be removed from their respective compartments, while at the same time, portions of the wrenches protruding from the openings I5 will readily assist the user in his selection of the wrench of proper size.

Means are also provided for releasably retaining the cover it in the closed position, the same consisting of a pair of locking balls 2'I positioned in suitable bores 28 formed in the end surfaces IQ of the body I i. The outer portions of the bores 28 are peened inwardly, so to speak, so as to retain the balls in position and a suitable compression spring 29 is positioned in each bore for urging the associated ball outwardly into a concave recess 30 formed in the adjacent end portion I'I of the cover I8. The recesses 30 are so disposed with respect to the balls 21, that the balls will effectively retain the cover in the closed position, as will be clearly understood.

Finally, it should be stated that the body Il may, if desired, be formed with a recess or relief 3|, whereby the weight of the cabinet will be reduced to the minimum.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is considered unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What claim as my invention is:

A socket wrench cabinet comprising a substantially rectangular body including a lower face, an upper face, substantially vertical side faces and a forward face, said body having a plurality of spaced parallel substantially vertical open ended bores provided therein, notches provided in the forward face of the body communicating with the open upper ends of the bores, means carried by the body for retaining the body perpendicular to a supporting structure for accessibility to wrenches positioned in the bores, and means for locking the retaining means relative to the body for closing the open upper ends of the bores, said retaining means including a substantially U- shaped member having spaced leg portions pivoted to the lower portions of the vertical side faces and a web portion connecting the leg portions, the leg portions and web portion including rear bearing edges coplanar with the lower face of said body when the member is pivoted to a position perpendicular to said body for resting against a supporting surface contacted by the lower face of said body to prevent tipping of the body.

GILBERT A. MINNICH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 921,149 Norwood May 11, 1909 1,043,891 Zange Nov. 12, 1912 1,712,473 McWethy May 7, 1929 1,972,742 Kohlmetz Sept. 4, 1934 1,973,188 Verderber Sept. 11, 1934 2,357,646 Gilbert Sept. 5, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 296,852 Great Britain Sept. 13, 1928 

